Acts 9:32-43 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelled at Lydda.… Look at this miracle — I. AS EXPRESSING THE GENIUS OF CHRISTIANITY. AEneas, a wretched sufferer for eight long years, Peter restored to health, thus expressing the benign spirit of the new religion. Christianity is — 1. The offspring of mercy. It is a stream from the eternal fountain of love. 2. The revealer of mercy. "Herein is love," etc. 3. The organ of mercy. Through it humanity is to be redeemed from all evil. II. AS SYMBOLISING THE MISSION OF CHRISTIANITY. It was a restorative miracle. The mission of Christianity is restorative. Christ came to seek and to save. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. It does not create new faculties; but it restores the soul — 1. To God's knowledge. 2. To God's fellowship. 3. To God's image. III. AS INDICATING THE POWER OF CHRISTIANITY. "Jesus Christ maketh thee whole," etc. 1. The restorative power is derived from Christ. 2. It is derived from Christ by faith. IV. AS REPRESENTING THE INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIANITY. Men "turned to the Lord." This is to turn — 1. From the creature to the Creator. 2. From the destroyer to the Restorer. 3. From the wrong and miserable to the holy and happy. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. |
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